X-COM XCOM 2 + War of the Chosen Expansion Thread

[Moink]

Managed to mindcontrol the VIP on the first turn, walked him out of the door and into the skyranger

Easy peasy

Is there a Dr. Vahlen reference? There should be. Bitch never shut up.

 

[ArchAngel]

So my experience with Xcom 2 on Commander/Ironman so far is:
- Made a tactical error on mission 2, lost one soldier, almost lost everyone (got lucky with RNG)
- Lost a grenadier to a one shot from a Heavy Turret while the soldier was behind Heavy Cover, and that was early in the mission. Had to do that mission with 4 guys vs 5 Sectoids and 1 Muton.
- Lost a sniper to not being able to extract him in time because he got hit by Advent Mec grenade 1 turns before and panicking and running in opposite direction. Then even with Specialist being able to remove his panic his double move only got him 2 squares away from extraction zone
- Learning the hard way that in Xcom 2 you don't buy armor for each of your character but pay once to have it all upgraded forever. If I knew this I would have upgraded it ages ago and had easier time in few missions.
- Lots of irritating bugs (like when you use grenades game shows enemies becoming flanked before you destroy their cover or soldiers getting promoted before they shoot the alien or my FPS dropping to 10 when I try to throw a Flashbang). Also if I press Y fast so all my troops go into overwatch fast the game hangs on one of the troopers and end turn never starts automatically but I need to click the button on top. And some others.
- I am probably going to lose to Avatar Project because it is 2 ticks away from being done and all the facility missions are far away and I don't have enough free connections to reach them (and not money or time to make more Connection buildings). I hope there are other ways to reduce this.
- I lack supplies all the time and due to trying way to improve it (like getting Contact with everyone in same continent) I caused my situation of not being able to stop Avatar.
- Timers do make you not overwatch camp (the Advent Black Site I did for 44 turns when I finally didn't need to rush :D) but I think I would prefer if all timed missions on Commander difficulty got +1 turns to timers. I usually spend 2-3 turns just double moving and I still always finish in on last turn and barely (killing enemy VIP, hacking stuff from far with Specialist and so on).
- Snipers are not as good as before, partly because they don't get to hit as good as before, partly because they suck with timer missions which are very often. They are especially sucky when lower levels.

 

[Mazisky]

Damn, I had a guy I wanted to make a Psi Op but didn't realize that only Rookies can go into psi training. Anyone have an idea how to mod a save file to demote a soldier?

U can buy fresh rookies at armory even in late game ^^

 

[Mazisky]

It's really not XCOM though this time around. With everything cranked up to 11, on both sides, it's X-MEN & friends against a super villain invasion or something and really not "human soldiers fight for freedom against a superior alien invader". Not bad, just different and really nothing to do with XCOM/UFO whatsoever now.
Superhero games are rare, especially with RPG/tactical/strategic elements so it's a welcome sight, just don't call it XCOM.

Hoping some mods will tune the whole shit down again though, and bring back normal human soldiers doing normal shits, against "normal" (teched up) aliens.


Edit:
Hmmmm, hang on a second....There are a lot of mechanic to make one hell of a superhero tactical game actually. Can do fly, can do super speed with multiple action boosts, can do big strength, invulnerable, super jumps, beams, explosions....holy fuck...
Any artists to do spandex costume, capes, superhero masks, wrist rifles and eye beams mods?

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

 

[Mazisky]

Xenonauts set the bar for any other xcom clone/remake/re-imagining. This crap pales in comparison.

Xenonauts has the worst graphic, art style and story-time setting i have ever seen that it was unplayable to me.

Unfortunately, for the sequel they chose that horrible cold war timetable, i only hope it will be better this time, aesthetically speaking, so i can give it a chance

 

[mutonizer]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Xenonauts set the bar for any other xcom clone/remake/re-imagining. This crap pales in comparison.

Xenonauts has the worst graphic, art style and story-time setting i have ever seen that it was unplayable to me.

Unfortunately, for the sequel they chose that horrible cold war timetable, i only hope it will be better this time, aesthetically speaking, so i can give it a chance[/QUOTE]

 

[Mazisky]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

Didn't the previous games soldiers became op super heroes after getting some tech?

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

Didn't the previous games soldiers became op super heroes after getting some tech?

He is not talking about being OP but doing superhero stuff. Melee ranger that can attack couple of enemies and move to them as well all in the same turn? Yea that is some Flash like superpowers.

 

[Jasede]

I looked at some screenshots and Xenonauts is somehow uglier than the original X-Com, which is quite an achievement. I'm not expecting great graphics but come on, that's just sad.

 

[Mazisky]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

Didn't the previous games soldiers became op super heroes after getting some tech?

He is not talking about being OP but doing superhero stuff. Melee ranger that can attack couple of enemies and move to them as well all in the same turn? Yea that is some Flash like superpowers.

I got the point. Btw, for me the most noticeable thing that was lost during sequels is the overall atmosphere, that creepy mood in the original was unbeatable. I guess a lot did the music and the art.

If only Xenonauts copy-pasted-imitaded all instead of trying to get a "original" horrible artstyle

Imho the old crysalid still looks more terrifying than any other replica.
I don't like the new one, because it's just a insect "zerg like" stuff

I really like the Andromedon tho, because it has a kinda weird old vibe

 

[Kem0sabe]

Dunno what you guys are on about, Xenonauts looks quite nice, with the exceptions of the armors which are quite horrendous, it's a nice looking isometric game.

 

[Mazisky]

Dunno what you guys are on about, Xenonauts looks quite nice, with the exceptions of the armors which are quite horrendous, it's a nice looking isometric game.

Armors are horrendous, aliens are horrendous, artworks too.

Pillars of eternity is a nice looking 2d modern isometric game.

But even the old ones

Jagged Alliance 2 .

Syndicate 1

Crusader no remorse\regret

Almost every 90's isometric game was good in art

Xeno is just worthless (the game itself is very good, they just need to change art)

The fact they chosen again some cold war ugly stuff doesn't help tho

 

[Zetor]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

Didn't the previous games soldiers became op super heroes after getting some tech?

He is not talking about being OP but doing superhero stuff. Melee ranger that can attack couple of enemies and move to them as well all in the same turn? Yea that is some Flash like superpowers.

Well, my XCOM EW superherosoldier team of 4 had essentially perma-invisibility, super-jump, in-combat regeneration / "healing factor", frying the brains of enemy psi users, etc etc.

 

[ArchAngel]

I prefer Open Xcom over Xenonauts. Only good thing about Xenonauts is Shield, better working reaction fire system and being able to give "classes" and pre-setup gear for your troops.. and Predator armor walking through obstacles (that was always fun to do :D).

Xenonauts lacked the terror feel of Open Xcom a lot.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't get the point....what's different from the original in those terms?

They're not really human anymore, nor soldiers really. It's lot of little things really but I think it really became obvious that I was playing a super-hero team and not some ragtag guerrila group called XCOM was when "Crimson Bitch", my ranger babe, reaped across the map through 5-6 dudes in a single turn. It's a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but more Freedom Force kind of fun, not UFO/Xenonauts/JA kind of fun.

Apart from the light coating on top, this game really has nothing to do with the originals in how they handle, behave and feel. That's why I think anyone comparing them to this one is just missing something and anyone wanting that old UFO feeling really shouldn't play this game. I get my UFO kick with Xenonauts, as someone else mentioned. This is something completely different. Maybe it's just me though, but liking XCOM2 and liking Xenonauts don't even create any conflict whatsoever since they have, again, nothing in common but a vague theme.

Didn't the previous games soldiers became op super heroes after getting some tech?

He is not talking about being OP but doing superhero stuff. Melee ranger that can attack couple of enemies and move to them as well all in the same turn? Yea that is some Flash like superpowers.

Well, my XCOM EW superherosoldier team of 4 had essentially perma-invisibility, super-jump, in-combat regeneration / "healing factor", frying the brains of enemy psi users, etc etc.

Well he was compairing it with EU. EW already started to go Xcom 2 route. But Xcom 2 is better balanced. EW on Classic Ironman was 2x easier than EU on classic Ironman.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Dunno what you guys are on about, Xenonauts looks quite nice, with the exceptions of the armors which are quite horrendous, it's a nice looking isometric game.

Armors are horrendous, aliens are horrendous, artworks too.

Pillars of eternity is a nice looking 2d modern isometric game.

But even the old ones

Jagged Alliance 2 .

Syndicate 1

Crusader no remorse\regret

Almost every 90's isometric game was good in art

Xeno is just worthless (the game itself is very good, they just need to change art)

The world art, the xenopedia art, much of the equipment art, it had good art.

Spoiler

 

[Jimmious]

Idk guys, while I like Xenonauts a lot my inner autist feels like he will need 1000 hours to properly play a campaign. In nuXCOMs you jump right in and things go faster...I like that, time is precious

 

[bonescraper]

Xenonauts set the bar for any other xcom clone/remake/re-imagining. This crap pales in comparison.

Yeah, someone really went above and beyond to set it lower.

 

[Ivan]

Sure the graphics and the engine looks like exactly the same as 1

environments do look much nicer tho but fuck LOS is fucking broken. Shooting ppl thru walls, activating overwatch thru walls, but noooooooooooo u cant throw nades thru walls.

or sometimes when I aim a nade at a group and for a split second the cursor moves by itself and it misses the armored for -___-

 

[Outlander]

Here's a mod list:

http://www.pcinvasion.com/the-best-xcom-2-mods

Free Camera Rotation

True Concealment (timer doesn't start while undetected)

Disable Timers

Leader Pack (train special perks for squad leaders, from the Long War guys)

Better Tactical Zoom Out

New Countries (extra flags)

Evac All

XCOM Legion (squad size up to 8)

Muton Centurion Alien Pack (new enemy)

No AP Hacking

Accurate Rookies (10+ aim bonus for rookies)

 

[Whiran]

- I am probably going to lose to Avatar Project because it is 2 ticks away from being done and all the facility missions are far away and I don't have enough free connections to reach them (and not money or time to make more Connection buildings). I hope there are other ways to reduce this.

- Snipers are not as good as before, partly because they don't get to hit as good as before, partly because they suck with timer missions which are very often. They are especially sucky when lower levels.

If you find 'leads' to blacksites in missions (hacking rewards) then you don't have to have the physical connection to the black site location. You basically 'unlock' the mission and can go straight there bypassing the contact with rebels requirement.

"Snipers" can do really well with the pistol traits and upgraded pistols. With the free pistol shot and the ability to shoot at all enemies in view / range of a pistol in a single round you can clear out a room after softening the aliens. Overall, I've found snipers to be really useful although not in the same way as in X-COM.

 

[Disgruntled]

I never played the originals so for me nuXCOM 1 and 2 is like taking a bite into a fresh sweet peach of juicy tb goodness. That said, I can see how the horror and unknown element doesnt really permeate with these iterations. Id happily see this set go into a more sandbox route and drop the Alien plot. Its too much of a game-oriented handicap and I dont buy the in-universe excuses.
Lets build on the geoscope, start putting some more grounded human factions in, open up the strategic objectives, let the creatures be human creations and slow down the progress rate to typical strategy standards. But eh, I know thats not a realistic proposition when the brand is so important. The best I can hope for is Firaxis starting a spin-off to capitalize on the format's success.

Anyway, back to my current campaign, rocky start with gatecrasher. Rookie panics and decides to retaliate by throwing a grenade at innocent civilians behind her.

Spoiler

Blowing up a monument and snackbaring 2 unarmed human beings. That would have been a field day for advent propaganda.

On more awesome news. Bishop shows why he should have been a combat droid all along.

I imagine someone switched off his human limit protocols.

 

[Zetor]

- I am probably going to lose to Avatar Project because it is 2 ticks away from being done and all the facility missions are far away and I don't have enough free connections to reach them (and not money or time to make more Connection buildings). I hope there are other ways to reduce this.

- Snipers are not as good as before, partly because they don't get to hit as good as before, partly because they suck with timer missions which are very often. They are especially sucky when lower levels.

If you find 'leads' to blacksites in missions (hacking rewards) then you don't have to have the physical connection to the black site location. You basically 'unlock' the mission and can go straight there bypassing the contact with rebels requirement.

"Snipers" can do really well with the pistol traits and upgraded pistols. With the free pistol shot and the ability to shoot at all enemies in view / range of a pistol in a single round you can clear out a room after softening the aliens. Overall, I've found snipers to be really useful although not in the same way as in X-COM.

I think in the endgame you really need a snipey sniper... though I haven't tried a gunslinger, I don't think it would fare against all the HP/armor bloated crap that starts hitting the fan near the end. It may be ok against low-hp enemies, but those are just In The Zone Serial fodder for a rifle-using sniper anyway.

 

[Jimmious]

Here's a mod compilation:

http://www.pcinvasion.com/the-best-xcom-2-mods

Free Camera Rotation

True Concealment (timer doesn't start while undetected)

Disable Timers

Leader Pack (train special perks for squad leaders, from the Long War guys)

Better Tactical Zoom Out

New Countries (extra flags)

Evac All

XCOM Legion (squad size up to 8)

Muton Centurion Alien Pack (new enemy)

No AP Hacking

Accurate Rookies (10+ aim bonus for rookies)

This is not a good "pack". The two timer mods don't make sense together and the accurate rookies will break the balance(as will the complete removal of timers)